Next-Generation Low-Dimensional Semiconductor Materials: Synthesis and Applications for Photocatalysis and Photodetection

Dear Colleagues,

Low-dimensional semiconductors (0D, 1D, 2D) exhibit quantum confinement effects and tunable optoelectronic properties, enabling breakthroughs in energy conversion, environmental remediation, and high-sensitivity photodetection. This Special Issue seeks to advance the synthesis, characterization, and application of low-dimensional semiconductors, emphasizing scalable fabrication, stability enhancement, and device integration for sustainable energy and sensing technologies.

Research History

• Post-2020: Integration of 2D materials (MoS₂, MXenes) and stimuli-responsive systems for adaptive optoelectronics.
• 2010s–2020s: Emergence of hybrid materials (e.g., plasmonic–semiconductor nanostructures) and organic–inorganic perovskites, improving responsivity and catalytic efficiency.
• 2000s–2010s: Focus on inorganic nanowires (e.g., ZnO, CdS) and graphene for UV photodetectors and photocatalytic water splitting.

Latest Research Progress

• Plasmonic Hybrids: Enhanced light–matter interaction in Au/ZnO and graphene/MoS₂ heterostructures for ultrasensitive photodetection and SERS-based biosensing.
• Perovskite Nanocrystals: CsCu₂I₃ and Cs₃Cu₂I₅ demonstrate high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY >80%) for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction.
• Flexible Organic Crystals: Low-dimensional organic semiconductors (e.g., S-BF₂ nanowires) enable wearable UV photodetectors and optically pumped lasers 1013.
• 2D Ferroelectrics: Materials like 1T′-MoS₂ show room-temperature ferroelectricity, which is promising for non-volatile memory and energy-efficient photodetectors.

We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following:

• Synthesis: Novel methods (CVD, solution-phase epitaxy) for low-dimensional materials (quantum dots, nanowires, 2D perovskites).
• Characterization: Advanced techniques (in situ TEM, low-wave Raman spectroscopy) to probe atomic-scale structure–property relationships.
• Applications: Photocatalysis (H₂ generation, pollutant degradation), photodetectors (UV-IR range), and integrated systems (e.g., perovskite/organic tandems).

We welcome the following:

• Original Research: Innovations in material design (e.g., defect engineering, phase-selective synthesis).
• Reviews: Critical analyses of challenges in scalability, stability, and interfacial charge transfer.
• Device Studies: Photodetectors with ultrahigh responsivity (>10⁴ A/W) or photocatalysts with >90% quantum efficiency.
• Theoretical Work: Computational modeling of exciton dynamics, carrier mobility, and heterostructure interfaces.

Prof. Dr. Lijun Wu
Dr. Jagadeesh Suriyaprakash
Dr. Lianwei Shan
Guest Editors

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